Baseman&#39;s mitt



June 26, 1951 F. P. DELSALLE BASEMAN S MITT IS Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed F515. 25, 1948 F. P. DELSALLE BASEMANS MITT June 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW Filed Feb. 25, 1

I I INVENTOR. QM 6'. fi-Lum FITO/F/YEK June 26, 1951 F, DELSALLE 2,558,544

BASEMANS MITT 3 Sheets$heet 5 Filed Feb. 25, 1948 V INVENTOR.

Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STTES BASEMANS MITT Frank P. Delsalle, Daniels, Md, assignor to C. R. Daniels, Inc., Daniels, Md, a corporation of New York 3 Claims.

This invention relates to basemans mitts and their construction producing a sturdy but very flexible mitt.

Attempts have been made in the prior art to produce basemens mits that require no or very little breaking-in to provide a so-called pocket in such mitts for efficacious use in play. Such prior art structures, however, have not been satisfactory for a number of reasons, in some instances lacking sturdiness and in other instances sufiicient flexibility. The balance between sturdiness and flexibility has required a sacrifice of one or the other of such characteristics in the prior art attempts in this direction.

Among the objects of the present invention is the production of a basemans mitt that is readily flexible in use, requires no breaking-in, and yet exhibits a very sturdy construction.

Other and further objects of the present invention will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood that such more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only, and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In connection with that more detailed description, there is shown in the accompanying drawings a form of basemans mitt in accordance with the present invention, where Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the mitt;

Figure 2 shows a back elevation of the mitt of Figure l; and

Figures 3 to 8 inclusive are enlarged crosssectional views on lines 3-3, i- 5, and 5-5 of Figure 1, and lines 5-5, l'!, and 8-3 of Figure 2, respectively.

In accordance with the present invention a basemans mitt is produced of very sturdy construction yet exhibiting pronounced flexibility so that it may be used immediately without .any breakingin period and will possess a long life in use. For these purposes the mitt is produced with a palm portion carrying thumb and finger portions separated from each other by a substantial distance, the space between the thumb and finger portions being taken up by a guard member substantially conforming to the space between the thumb and finger portions, the guard being in edge to-edge contact with the palm portion and said guard being flexibly connected to the inner thumb and finger portions. By such structure a very sturdy construction is provided without sacrifice of flexibility and in fact giving flexibility which cannot be obtained by any other structure.

In the most desirable form of the invention as illustrated in the drawings and particularly as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mitt is provided with a front member I having a thumb portion 2 and finger portion 3. A palm portion P joins the thumb and finger portions, with the thumb portion 2 and finger portion 3 being separated at a substantial distance from each other. A back member 4 having palm, thumb and finger portions is provided, such portions desirably being of separate portions stitched together, as for example, the back thumb portion 5 and back finger portion 6 joined together by the gusset l on which a label or other identifying mark 8 may be placed. The back thumb portion 5, back finger portion 6, gusset 1, and label 8 may be stitched together as by stitching 9. Desirably the back member i is cut away as shown at Ill to provide a back opening while the back thumb portion and back finger portion are provided with extensions H and I2 respectively, to which extensions a wrist band I3 is attached. The front and back members I and 4 respectively, are joined together throughout their contiguous side and top peripheries in any desired way as by lacing M. The lacing M is desirably produced from a single thong of leather or other desirable material and runs continuously around the side and upper portions of the front and back members, for example, in clockwise manner beginning at the lowermost point [5 of the thumb portion 2 and carried upwardly along the outer side edges of the thumb portions of the front and back members, continuing around the top portion of the glove members along the edges thereof forming the space between the thumb and finger portions and downwardly along the outside edges of the front and back finger portions tothe lowermost point It on the outside of the palm portion, the ends of the lacing thong Id being attached in any desired way as by being drawn under and through the lacing M.

A guard member H is positioned in the space between the thumb portion 2 and the finger portion 3. The guard substantially conforms with such space and in large measure serves to close it. The guard is desirably made of a front guard portion 13 and a rear guard portion I9 stitched together as by stitching 20 along their peripheral edges. The guard I1 is attached in edge-to-edge contact as shown at 2! with the palm portion P and gusset l desirably by the same lacing 14' which joins the front and back members together. While the guard I! is in edge-to-edge contact with the palm and gusset portions, the sides of the guard are separated substantially from the thumb portion 2 and finger portion 3. The front guard portion l8 and back guard portion 19 are attached together desirably by lacing 22 which runs continuously around the guard and is separate from the lacing M. The gaps or spaces between the guard l7 and the thumb portion 2 and finger portion 3 permit lacing to join the guard flexibly to the humb and finger portions, and such lacing may take the form of a leather thong 23, laced back and forth under the loops of the respective lacings i l and 22 on the thumb portion 2 and guard I i, and a leather thong 2d laced under the respective loops of the lacing 22 and I l on the guard ll and finger portion 3 respectively.

The lacing IA and the lacing 22 are desirably carried through eyelets 25, 25, along all peripheral edges of the front and back members of both the mitt and guard except at the points of edge-toedge contact of the guard i! with the palm portion P, as shown at 23 since it is undesirable to use eyelets at this portion of the mitt where contact with the ball may take place. Such eyelets reinforce the flexible leather of which the mitt and guard are desirably composed although any other flexible sheet material such as plastic may be used but leather is, if course, preferred for articles of this character. In addition, the peripheral edges of all portions are desirably provided with binding 2? attached to the portions by stitching.

The features of the mitt as set forth above illustrate the external or gross characteristics and structure. Most desirably the mitt is provided with padding and also desirably with fiber or other rigid reinforcements in certain portions of the mitt, the padding and reinforcements being provided to give the desired contour and to form a pocket in the palm P Without requiring breaking in. While the mitt is padded throughout, including the guard, extra layers of padding are desirably provided beyond the palm portion P thus insuring a pocket and also flexibility in use.

Referring to Figure 3, the palm portion P has a palm lining 28 desirably of leather but which may be made of other flexible materials such as plastic, while the gusset i has the back lining 38, the space between the palm lining 28 and back lining 38 receiving the palm and back of the hand of the user. Such linings are stitched together at their inner ends as shown at 3E! and at their other ends are stitched. directly to the front and back members respectively, desirably by the stitching 3i which holds the binding 2? in position. Padding 32 in the form of a pad assembly is provided in the palm section of the mitt between the palm portion P and the palm lining 28, this pad assembly consisting of a layer of padding 33 which extends from the palm portion P adjacent the guard to the opposite end of the palm portion at which latter end the pad assembly 32 has an extra layer of padding 34 so that above such extra padding 34 a space 35 between the padding 33 and the palm portion P will form a pocket in the use of the glove in cooperation with other portions of the mitt. See Figure 4. The palm portion P and palm lining 28 are also provided with binding 21 as explained above held in position by the stitching 3 i.

As explained above, the lacing M flexibly attaches the guard H to the palm portion P and gusset l. As shown in Figure 3, the guard is provided with a pad filler 36 held between the front guard portion l8 and the rear guard portion l9. Further as shown in Figure 3, the guard I! has the edges of the front guard portion [8 and rear guard portion [9 provided with binding stitched in position while the palm portion P and gusset l are also provided with the binding 2'! stitched in position.

The structure of the thumb portion 2 is shown sectionally in Figure 5. The thumb portion 2 with back thumb portion 5 is provided with a front lining portion 3i which extends from the palm lining 28 and a back lining 38 stitched together as shown at 39 and providing a space 40 7 between them for reception of the thumb of the user. Between the thumb portion 2 and its lining 3! the pad assembly 4! is positioned and runs. throughout the thumb portion down to the base of the thumb portion after which it continues as the padding 32 in the palm portion so that the increased thickness of pad assembly in the thumb portion which is reduced in thickness when it reaches the palm portion again serves to provide the pocket in the mitt. Desirably between the back thumb portion 5 and the lining 38 therefor, a rather stiff thumb reinforcement E2 is positioned which runs throughout the length of the thumb portion. Such reinforcement 32 may be made of fiber desirably, although other materials like plastic may be employed and gives greater rigidity to the thumb portion and for this purpose such reinforcement 42 may be carried to the very base of the mitt in the back thumb portion. As further shown in Figure 5, the peripheral edges of thumb portion 2 and back thumb portion 5 are provided with binding 2? stitched in position, with the stitching E3 passing through the binding 2! at the inner end thereof and through the front thumb portion 2 and rear thumb portion 5. A palm reinforcement d4 of leather or other relatively flexible material, also shown in Figure 3, ma be utilized. Such palm reinforcement may be cemented as by rubber cement, to the palm portion P before binding and runs along the palm portion P adjacent the cut away portion where the guard I? is attached.

The structure through the palm portion is illustrated in Figure 6. The palm portion P with palm lining 28 has the pad layer 33 enlarged at the thumb portion 4! the latter lying between the palm portion P and the part 3'! of the lining in the thumb portion. The space 50 between the palm lining 23 and the back lining 33 as shown in Figure 6 is, of course, for the reception of the hand of the user.

The structure and attachment of the wrist band and associated portions of the mitt are illustrated in section in Figure 7. The wrist band [3 desirably of leather but which may be made of any other material such as plastic, is attached at one side by stitching 5! to the lowermost section of the back thumb portion 5 and back lining 38, the thumb reinforcement 42 as explained above lying between the back thumb portion 5 and the back lining 38, the said portion and lining being stitched together. The binding 21 as explained above may be used and held in place by stitching on the peripheries at this point of the back thumb portion 5 and lining 38. The other end of the wrist band 13 is attached to the lowermost section of the back finger portion 6 with its associated lining 38, and the attachment of the wrist band to the back finger portion 6 is desirably by the lacing 53 carried through eyelets 25, 25. Binding 21 held in place by stitching is provided for the peripheries of the back finger portion 6 and its associated lining 38. The sectional structure of the wrist band is particularly shown in detail in section in Figure 8. The wrist band I3 is provided with a lambs wool lining 54, the binding 21 being used to cover the edges of such wrist band assembly and the stitching which holds the binding in position serving also to hold all of the parts together.

Where leather is specified above for the palm, finger, thumb and other exposed portions of the mitt, a good grade of cowhide is preferred. For palm and back linings, horsehide may be used. stiffening elements will desirably be of fibre sheeting, but plastic may be used.

By the structure set forth above, a very sturdy yet flexible mitt is provided directly usable without requiring breaking in. It will be seen from the structure and description as set forth above that a pocket is necessarily formed as a result of such structure. The separated finger and thumb portions enable those portions to approach toward each other by movement of the fingers and thumb of the user, in a very simple and efficacious manner, while the guard portion provides a flexible structure insuring retention of the ball but not interfering with the fiexibility of the glove and the ability of the user to move the thumb and finger portions toward each other.

Having thus set forth my invention, I claim:

1. A basemans mitt comprising a front member including a palm portion and thumb and finger portions connected to said palm portion, the thumb and finger portions being separated from each other by a substantial distance, a back member for said palm, thumb and finger portions, said front and back members being joined together by lacing throughout their contiguous sid and top peripheries, and a separate guard member including front and back portions joined together, said guard member lying between the separated thumb and finger portions and conforming substantially with the space between said thumb and finger portions and being flexibly attached to the palm portion of the front member and corresponding portion of the back member, in edge-to-edge contact, by the lacing joining said front and back members, said guard member being flexibly connected to the inner thumb and finger portions but separated substantially from said portions.

2. A mitt as set forth in claim 1, in wmch the front and back members are provided with lining, padding is located throughout between the trout member and its lining, a fiber reinforcement is located between the thumb portion of the back member and its lining, and padding is located between the front and back portions of the guard member.

3. A mitt as set forth in claim 1, in which the front and back members are joined together by lacing, eyelets located in said front and back members for the reception of said lacing, said guard member and palm portion at the edge-tocdge contact being provided with apertures for the reception of said lacing, and said apertures being free of eyelets.

FRANK P. DELSALLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 1,509,801 Walters Sept. 23, 1924 1,574,664 Long Feb. 23, 1926 1,725,426 Stumpe Aug. 20, 1929 2,281,315 Latina Apr. 28, 1942 2,485,882 Hilton Oct. 25, 1949 

